Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-06-21
PACIFsC RIILRoADa.

ARRIVAL CT TIE coanErszION N OMAHA
AND A hssUMH or Trs woKK.
OMLHA. June 20.-Measra. Paitisnn
Aod Littler, members OF the PAci6c
Railroad Commission, arrived this
meFnirg from the East. They spent
Saturday IN OhicARo. taxing the testi-
mony OF Marvin HuRhitt, President Of
the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad
Company, and also President Of the
Sioux Citv and Paciic Railroad Com
pany. Hughitt testified that the
Sioux City and Pacific road would
not be able st the maturity
Of its Government life 10 pay anything
towards disohargioR its obligations 10
the Gsvsrnment. II the Government
insisted on forcing its lien the common
stockholders, he thought. would abandon
the property. A majority OF the stock
vas held hy the Chicago a Northwestern
Railroad Company. which bought the
stock at cost, at what rata Hunhitt did
not know. An examination Of the min.
ute book Of the sioux City 4 Paoiao
disclosed the fact that about the time
that the Sioux City 4 Paeihc was tnre ed
over 20 the Northwestern Company.
John !. Blair. Of New Jersey, secured
the passage by the Sioux City
Directors Of resolution providing for
the assumption by the North western
Company Of ali obligations Of the Sioux
City Company except its obligations TO
the Government.
On reaching here today ihe Commits
sioaers set about At once examining the
officers Of the Union Pacific. BENZ.
AeAllisteF, Land Commissioner, was
closely pressed by Governor PattisOn to
answer whether ID vas not the policy
Of the company 10 permit the lands 10
remain unpatented in order TO avoid
local taxation. He finally answered
"Yes," but Mr.. PoppletOn, counsel for
the company, explained TO the Oommls.
sioneTa that McAllister could only
speak as to the Kansas Division and
not as 10 the policy Of the company.
having only recently taken charge Of
the land department..
McAllisteF added thai for the last i've
years the Kansas division Of the CON-
pany had not applied for one half of It's
patents. Il had got patents en- land it
had paid on. II had applied for patents
and paid for nearly q million Aores, for
which Il had got no patents from the
In answer to a question |
by Commissioner LittleR as 10 Why the |
company had not yet selected ell the |
lands 10 which u was entitled, McAllis-
Ter said that much was in the localities |
where there was no demand for land.
Gov. Patterson asked the witnesses 10 |
and report TO the commits.
lion what amount Of money could have
been paid In taxes II Il had patented All
ibe lands 10 which u was entitled as
loon a. the survey was made.
Erastus Youag, Auditor, testified a.
70 certain rebates on refundin2s ap- |
DearinR on the company's books.
Governor Pattifon tlok up soHne Of |
he items in detail and asked for an tx-
plAnation Of them. As these questions |
disclosed the names Of the parties 10 |
whom the rebates aud refunds had been |
made, P0sple,on oontended that IL vas |
IN an improper line Of examination and |
would simply advertise through the
press the dealings Of the company In
ihe matter Of rebates. This would hurt
Ihe company, and be objected TO the
giving Of such information before the
reporters who we're present.
In the discussion which ensued, Gov.
PAttilor, with some warmth, remarked
that there should be no star chamber
proceedings abo1t the Commission.
Adjourned until tomorrow.